WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced today that it is making funding available for grant programs designed to promote public education efforts regarding immigration-related employment discrimination.
The Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), a section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, announced the availability of funds for public education programs regarding employees’ rights and employers’ obligations under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The program is open to public service groups, faith-based organizations, associations and others providing information services to employers and/or potential victims of immigration-related employment discrimination. Last year, grants ranging from $40,000 to $90,000 were awarded to 11 organizations serving communities throughout the country.
In some situations, the INA prohibits discrimination against work-authorized individuals on the basis of citizenship status or national origin in hiring, firing and recruiting or referring for a fee. In addition, the provision prohibits employers from requiring over-documentation in the employment eligibility verification process. The INA also prohibits retaliation against protected conduct under the INA.
The deadline for grant applications is 11:59 p.m. EDT March 31, 2008. The grant announcement is available on OSC’s Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc or http://www.grants.gov..
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